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Abstract
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STUDY OBJECTIVES: To describe sleep 2-3 days post-concussion through symptom recovery and make comparison to well-matched non-concussed controls.
METHODS: Twenty college students were physician diagnosed with a concussion and compared to 20 non-concussed controls matched on age, sex, physical activity, and sleep quality. A wrist-worn ActiGraph GT9X Link was provided during initial evaluation (within 72 hours post-injury for concussed) and worn continuously until symptom resolution (duration matched for non-concussed). All participants completed a sleep symptom severity checklist, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Separate 2(group) x 3(time-points) mixed-model ANOVAs were conducted to compare actigraphy sleep outcomes (sleep onset latency (SOL), normalized wake after sleep onset (WASOnorm), total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency, and number of awakenings) across recovery stages (2-3 days post-injury, mid-point, and end of recovery). Intraindividual coefficient of variation was calculated for each sleep outcome. Mann Whitney U tests compared PSQI global score, ESS total score, and sleep symptom severity between groups (α=0.05).
RESULTS: At 2-3 days post-injury, concussed individuals took longer to fall asleep compared to controls (p=0.002). Greater intraindividual variability in WASOnorm(p=0.017) and TST (p=0.044) existed in concussed individuals across recovery. Poorer sleep quality (p<0.001), excessive daytime sleepiness (p=0.014), and worse sleep symptoms (p<0.001) existed in concussed compared to controls.
CONCLUSION: Concussed individuals took longer to fall asleep 2-3 days post-concussion, experienced greater variation in sleep fragmentation and sleep time until symptom resolution and reported worse sleep quality. Our preliminary findings may guide researchers interested in better understanding sleep post-concussion.
Language: en |